Helen Louise Moats

Posted: Friday, Oct 25th, 2013BY: Bartlett Funeral Home

Helen Louise Moats, age 89, of Grafton, went to spend her eternal life with the Lord Thursday, October 24, 2013, after a courageous battle with congestive heart failure. Mrs. Moats was born in Clarksburg, November 24, 1923, a daughter of the late Arna A. and Martha Louise (Heironimus) Miller. Her husband of 45 years, Paul K. Moats, preceded her in death March 27, 1991.

Mrs. Moats was a graduate of Grafton High School, Class of 1941, and the Elliott School of Business in Wheeling. She worked and resided in Wheeling after graduation. She returned to Grafton and married her high school sweetheart, Paul K. Moats, October 28, 1945. Then Lt. Moats had returned from Europe after having served in World War II including time spent as a Prisoner of War in Germany. They were lifelong residents of Grafton where Mrs. Moats was a homemaker and community volunteer. A devout Presbyterian, she served in many capacities at the First Presbyterian Church of Grafton, later the Church of the Covenant, Lutheran-Presbyterian. She was a former Sunday School teacher, a choir member, circle leader, and Clerk of the Session. She was also instrumental in helping with World Day of Prayer and Holy Week services. She was past president of the Grafton City Hospital Auxiliary, and volunteered in the gift shop for many years. She and her husband co-chaired the Taylor County Unit of the American Cancer Society; she regularly volunteered for the American Red Cross blood drives, and was a member of the Taylor County Arts Council. Mrs. Moats loved to cook, bake, and watch cooking shows on TV. She baked thousands of cookies, cupcakes and pies for her family, the church, the hospital, blood drives, and other groups locally over the years. She also taught her granddaughters and great grandchildren to bake as they sat upon the step stool at her kitchen counter. She loved all types of reading material and started each day with a devotion and time with the Bible. She frequented the Taylor County Public Library regularly, and continued her love of reading and word puzzles until her death.

In addition to her husband she was preceded in death by: a son, Daniel F. Moats; three grandchildren, Daniel Moats, Emily McConnell, and Caroline McConnell; a sister, Betty Rose Morrison; brothers-in-law, Calvin Morrison, and Fred Simpson; and one great nephew, Freddie Simpson.

Friends will be received by the Moats family, at Bartlett Funeral Home, 202 McGraw Ave., Grafton, on Sunday, October 27, 2013, from 2-8 PM. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 AM, Monday, October 28, 2013, at the funeral home, with Pastor Jacqueline Campbell officiating. Interment will follow at Woodsdale Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to: The Memorial Fund of the Church of the Covenant, Lutheran-Presbyterian, PO Box 26, Grafton, WV 26354.

The Moats family would like to sincerely thank Lonnie and Donna Mayle, and Amber Wright, Stephanie Hott, and Sabrina Poston, of Hospice Care Corporation for their compassion and loving care of Mrs. Moats these last months.

Online condolences and sympathy gifts can be sent to the Moats family at www.bartlettfuneralhomewv.com.